Signaling device for letter-boxes.



O. E. MGINTOSH & S. S. HOPKINS. SIGNALING DEVICE FOR LETTER BOXES.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN.8,1913.

1 ,109,242 Patented Sept. '1, 1914.

rue AORRIS PETERS (10.. PHOTO-LITHOH wAsulNfl rw n r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. McINTOSI-I AND SOLOMON S. HOPKINS, OF WAYNESBORO, VIRGINIA.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR LETTER-BOXES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CHARLES E. MCIN- 'rosH and SOLOMON S. HOPKINS, citizens of the United States of America, residing at WV-aynesboro, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Devices for Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to mail boxes and has special references to a mail box provided with a signal device arranged to indicate the lifting of the box lid for the deposition of mail.

The principal object of the invention is to improve and simplify the general con struction of devices of this character.

A second object of the invention is to provide an improved form of circuit closer for such devices.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved form of lid and controlling device .for the circuit closer.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel features of construction, combinations of details and arrangements of parts here inafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mail box constructed in accordance with this invention, the alarm device and its circuit being diagrammatically represented. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 52 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section showing the lid raised. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of a portion of the box showing the circuit closer. Fig. 5 is a perspective of a modified form of box suitable for rural free delivery.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown there is provided a box having a body 10 closed at its upper end by a slanting top 11. This top 11 is provided with a mail receiving slot or opening 12 surrounded by an upwardly projecting flange 13' for the purpose of preventing rain water entering the box. To the rear of the opening 12 the top is provided with ears 14 and over the opening fits a semi-cylindrical cover 15 hingedly mounted on said ears 14.

In the front of the box there is provided Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 8, 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914. Serial No. 740,873.

an access door 17 which is hinged at the top as at 18 and is provided with a glazed sight opening 19. This door is furthermore provided with a lock 20 so that the interior of the box may be kept from improper access.

Extending through the top of the box are bushings 21 of insulating material wherethrough extends binding posts 22 on one of which is mounted a pair of spaced nuts 23 between which is clamped the eye 24 of a spring contact strip 25, the eye being so positioned as to normally hold the free end of the strip against the other post 22, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. To the cover 15 is secured an arcuate arm 26 which projects through an opening 27 into the interior of the box, and this arm is so arranged and proportioned that, when the cover is closed the end of the arm 26 will engage the strip 25 and move its free end away from the post 22 against which it is adapted to rest when the cover is raised, while the arm 26 resiliently engages against the inner side of the opening 27 during the opening operation of the cover.

Wires 28 lead from the posts 22 to similar binding posts 29 located in bushings mounted in the side of the box. From one of the posts 29 a wire 31 leads to a battery 32 and from the other post 29 a wire 33 leads to a bell 34, the bell and battery being connected by a wire 35.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 the wiring circuit is omitted but there is disclosed a box having a body 36 closed by a cover 37 secured to the body by hinges 38. This box is provided with a hasp 39 secured by a padlock 40. At one end of the body, 36 there is provided a door 41 secured to the end by hinges 42 and this door is also provided with a hasp 43 and padlock 44, the latter being preferably a duplicate of the lock 40. In this form but two binding posts 45 are provided and to one of these posts is secured a spring contact strip 46 which is arranged to have its free end bear against the other post 45. Secured to the box cover 37 is an arm 47 which normally holds the free end of the strip out of said engagement.

In operation, as soon as the cover is lifted for the insertion of the mail, the spring strip completes the circuit and the current causes the bell to ring. It will be obvious that this bell may be located at any desired point and that minor changes may be made in the form of the device without departing from the principles thereof.

There has thus been provided a simple and efiicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

In the construction of mail boxes shown in Fig. 1 which may herein be referred to as a city box the door 17 thereof may open from the rear instead of at the front. This design would be appropriate when the mail box would be secured on the inside of the door of a house.

The slot for depositing the mail may be located on the side of the box as well as on the top, thus getting the same results.

The under door of the rural box is adapted to be used by the rural carrier to take out the mail Without sounding the alarm in the event that he has no mail. to deposit.

The present invention also comprehends the employment of the circuit closing device in connection with the mail slot on doors, as i for instance on the doors of ofiices and city 1 dwellings. In this instance the construction of apparatus and its manner of operation; would be the same as that shown herein;

with the exception that there Would be no receptacle or box.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, is

In a device of the kind described, a box comprising a body and a top therefor having a mail receiving opening, a cover hinged to said top and arranged to close said opening, a pair of binding posts mounted at the rear of said opening on said top within the box and insulated therefrom, a laterally disposed spring contact strip mounted on one of said posts and arranged to resiliently bear against the second post, said top having a small opening therethrough substantially centrally positioned at the r 11' of said mailreceiving opening; an arcuate arm extending through said small opening, one end of said arm being fixed to said cover and the other end arranged to engage said strip and hold the same out of engagement with said second post when the cover is closed, said arm being also adapted for resilient engage ment with a side of said small opening during the opening of the cover.

In testimony whereof we affix our signa- 5 tures in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. IVIGINTOSI'I. SOLOLMION S. HOPKINS.

Witnesses: I

U. A. VAN LEAR, S. K. LAMBERT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

